SMCC wedding of Emily and Adam in South Portland

•
by
whitney

Emily and Adam visited me at the office on Commercial Street in December, so their Labor Day weekend wedding seemed far off, but of course I knew it would be here before we knew it. We hit it off, I loved learning about them and their pooch Baxter, and the plans for their laid back local wedding at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, which is the keeper of some prime real estate -- on the shore of Casco Bay and minutes from Portland. Their grassy ceremony knoll on top of the old bunker that overlooks Willard Beach and Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse is part of their So Po 'hood, so I loved that they were tying the knot in their "backyard" and using other local vendors (like Scratch Bakery for all their cakes!).

I got to spend some time with both Emily and Adam pre-ceremony. Adam got ready at his and Emily's home in South Portland with his best man Dave. Adam looked handsome in his custom-tailored suit and showed off his dog training skills with four-legged Baxter who, at first, was camera shy (more impressive was Adam's carpentry skills -- he built their front porch and back deck. He doesn't know it yet, but I hired him to do my house next!).

Adam's parents, Susan and Dick, made the helpful signs for guests to easily navigate the turns to the wedding. Emily prepped upstairs in the McKernan Center, where the reception was being held, with the help of her maid of honor and sister Elizabeth (who flew in from "the other" Portland). But when I first arrived, Emily was back from Bei Capelli Salon and was arranging some last minute details and settings on the reception tables. The rooms looked great, especially with the bright pops of colored flowers from Fiddlehead Florist.

The sun was bright, the wind was warm, the water was that deep blue I love so much -- a perfect day for a wedding. Emily and Adam shared some sweet moments during the ceremony and even more during some portraits right after. A delicious dinner and revelry continued into the night at the McKernan Center for this adorable couple. Emily even got the band, the Delta Knights, to sing a happy birthday polka song to her friend whose birthday it was that day. Later, Emily's dad Bob jammed with the band, showing off his killer harmonica skills! The entire celebration was filled with plain old genuine happiness. The guests were smiling ear to ear, and Emily and Adam were beaming all day. It felt like one big family!

Emily and Adam, I am so happy for you two! Thanks for allowing me document the story of your wedding day. I loved every minute of it!

How they met, in their own words:

Emily and Adam met in Portland almost 4 years ago, having each found their own way there. Emily moved to Maine from California in 2006, searching for new adventures. She never thought that she would fall in love with the state and all that it has to offer. Adam is from Maine, but lived in NY, PA, and CO before making his way back to Maine for a job offer in 2010. Emily and Adam met at RiRa in Portland, and spent hours in conversation, continued a few nights later over dinner at The Front Room (where they closed down the restaurant). They got engaged last Thanksgiving, and quickly settled on SMCC as a wedding venue. Being outside and active is an important theme in their relationship, and SMCC is the perfect venue, as not only is it in their neighborhood, but it's on Casco Bay, and looks out on waters where they paddleboard together, and is next to trails where they run and bike together. Emily and Adam wanted a small, intimate wedding with just family and close friends, and the historical McKernan, on SMCC's campus, fit the bill perfectly.